Automatic circuit-breaker.



J'. NIKELMAN.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION 'IILED APR. 22, 1907.

' Patented Oct. 26,1909. 4'SHEETS-SHBET 1.

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JQNQK LMAN. AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.22,1'907.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

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WJTWESSES J/vr/EN T0}? 4 Jose 5 km (San )Felman AT TORIVE J; N. KELMAN.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED APB-22, 1907.

Patented Oct. '26, .1909.

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JTTORZV J. N. KELMAN.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 22,1907.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

JOSEPH NELSON KELMAN, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

' Specification 'of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26', 1909 Application filed April 22, 1907. Serial No. 370,091.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH 'NnLsoN KEL-.

MAN, of the city of Los Angeles, in the county of'Los Angeles,'in the State ofCalifornia, have invented an Automatic Circuit-- Breaker, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon,

The improved switch and circuit breaker for high potential circuits, constituting my present invention, is in part the same as the switch and circuit breaker for which I have filed an application for Letters Patent, Serial Number 367,121, and having the following filing date, namely April 8th,1907. The

' essential difference in the apparatus constituting my present invention is that the additions wlnch my present invention consists of, being applied to the switch and circuit breaker described in'my aforesaid application for Letters Patent, renderit automatic in the opening of high potential circuits in stead of being wholly opened and closed by .hand as in the iu'ip'aratus described in my aforesaid application t'orLetters Patents The apparatus constituting my present 1nvention is of that. type wherein the circuit is opened or closed under oil, and is not only safe and effective in opcratlon, but consequcntly can be depended upon at all times to :uitomatically open the circuit under any conditions of overload or short circuit. I have tested my'said improvements as applied to switches and circuit breakers on electric circuits wherein there have been carried Wiltagcs ranging from l5,00t) to 60,000 volts under all conditions of Overload and short circuit.

My new or improved switches orcircuit breakers are made up with any desired number of pairs Of poles, each pair of poles and corresponding contact makers or switch blades bcing in a separate oil tank. The

poles and contact makcrs being of the double type having two lixcd poles, and the two contact picccs arranged to move horizontally 0 as ncar horizontally as may be.

The tanks oi the apparatus are made of iron or other suitable matcrial, the top or cover of each of which is of marble and preferably made in two pieces, so that cilhcr or both of those plcccs ot marble can be readily takcn olt' to admit o'linspcction ot the switch in the interior of the tank, lo!" the reason that the pieces of-.|narble constitute a cover only for the tank, none of the work lug parts being fixed to, or supported by the covers in any respect. r

The hxed contacts of the switches are mounted on porcelain insulators, and are of the kind described in the-specification of my aforesaid application for Letters Patent, their construction being such as to provide very high insulation and considerable 1118: chanical strength. These insulators are mounted upon a wooden or equivalent insue lating supportv placed deep down in the oil tanks. The movable contacts-of the switches are attached to a rod of wood, while between this rod and the operating mechanism isa porcelain insulator of the same special design, and construction, providing very high potential insulation, and the requisite T tains the weight from falling,but the instant when the circuit becomes overloaded orshort circuited, the solenoid coil part of the-circuit being then abnormallyexcited, excites the soft lron core of the solenoid to such an intensity that the solenoid coilLpart ot' the circuit then ulls upward the soft iron core, and a cross ar or pin, attached to the lower part of a rod extending downward from thejsoft iron core, winch as the solenoid coil continues to pull the soft iron core upward,causes a -:un carried upon a revoluble shaft to operate upon the long end of the aforesaid pivoted lever, thereby pulling the catch of the short arm of the aforesaid pivoted lever outward from beneath, and

therefore 'lrom supporting the aforesaid weight. In consequence of this, the weight falls, and in falling strikes upon a pivoted dctcnl, \Vhiclroll being released frees the mechanism to automatically open' the switch or circuit breaker, while theupward movement of the parts which open the switch or circuit breaker lift and return tin-[weight to" be again hcld up by lllc hook or catch ofthe said pivoted lover. in readiness to tallaud pcrt'orm the same l'nnctionsot automatically opening the switch or circuit breaker when the load in the circuit shall again become excessive, or the circuit short circuited.

Upon the annexed drawings, Figure l, is

a front elevation of athree tank automatically opening switch apparatus for high potential circuits, constructed according tomy present invention. Fig. 2, is a plan corre- 'sponding to Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is an end elevation of one of the oil tanks showing the auto matic apparatus constituting my invention.

as situated between two of the tanks, and with the parts of the apparatus in the position they occupy when the circuit is in its closed'condition. Fig. 4, is another end elevation of one of the oil tanks, corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing the automatically operated parts of my apparatus in the position they occupy when the circuithas been opened or broken'by the falling of the weight having operated the part of the apparatus upon which it strikes. Fig. 5, is a transversesection of the tank, showing the switch contained therein, and submerged in oil. Fig. 6, is anenlarged View of the solenoid part of the circuitand soft iron core part of the apparatus constituting my present invention. Fig. 7, is'a perspective view of a detail of my invention as hereinafter more fully described. Figs; 8, and 9, respectively, are two perspectiveviews ofpart of the .mechanism operated by the weight when it falls on being released by the action of the solenoid as hereinafter described. In Figs. 1, '2, 3, 4, and 5 the tanks containing the oil, and the mechanism for mak- A ing and breaking high potential circuits are marked A. 'Each' of the tanks A, rests upon beams B, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, of'wood, iron,

or other suitable material. In each of the two spaces between the central and end tanks A, A, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, there are situated the A-shaped framings C, of

cast iron. In the lower part of these framings C, the shaft D, is carried rotatably in bearings, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in plan in Fig. 2, and in transverse section in Figs. 3, and 4. These A-shaped framings (J, are securely bolted to the beams B, upon which the tanks A, rest. Near one end of the shaft 1), an operatinglever or handle E, is carried loosely or rotatably upon the shaft, and near the opposite end of the shaft D, the cooperating weight F, is alsoattached by the lever as shown in Figs. 1, and 2. Two levers G, G, are fastened upon the shaft 1), one of these levers being beneath each of the frames (1, and therefore not seen in the plan Fig. 2, and'are each connected pivotally by a link II, Figs. 3,

and 4, to the lower end of each vertical red. I I, to the upper part of which rods the channel iron J, is securely fastened, and therefore connects the vertical rods I, I. The channel iron J, is also connected at 1ts cen-.

ter and ends by a strong porcelain insulator K, to a thick rod L, of Wood, and the lower end of each thick wooden rod L, is connected to the two movable blades or switch arms of each tank A, as more especially shown in Fig. 5. To the fixed contacts or poles N,

Fig. 5, the portions of the circuit T, whichenter the switch are connected, and these .of these insulators being fastened to the wooden rail S, stretching across the bottom portions T, pass out through. the cover of' .each tank through insulators T. Eachof the two blades or switch armsM, M, are

respectively united at their upper 'part'by,

means of connectors" U, which are held by bolts U, in 'close metallic contact with? the blades M, M, and. these conductors U, are connected together-by a piece of flexible cable U The construction of the insulators T, through which the conductors T, pass, lst-he same as that described in'my aforesaid. specification, and as shown in section in Fig. 5, consisting of the upper porcelain part V, through which one of the conductors T, pass. This portion V, is

flanged at the top so that it may rest se- ,curely upon the lower part T, of the insulator, which again is formed with a flange so as to rest upon the top of the slate or mar- .ble cover of the tanks A. The insulators K,

are ofthe same kind shown in the drawings,

described'in the specification, and claimed in the claims of my aforesaid application. for

Letters. Patent, and do not in themselves constitute any art of my present invention. The clips-ma e of the parts X, and Y,

shown in Fig. 5, for connecting the insulatorsto the parts of my device, are also of the same construction as shown in the drawings, described in the specification and claimed in my aforesaid application for Letters Patent, and need not therefore be herein further referred to. and the clips X, and 'Y, are fastened to the Both the insulators K,

wooden beam S, and to the channel iron J,

by tap bolts, all as shown and described inmy aforesaid application for Letters Patent,

and not constituting any part of my present further re'-' invention need not be herein ferred to.

When the apparatus constituting my present invention 1s closed, the several parts thereof are in the positions and relation? shipsrepresented by Figs. 3, and 5, are

maintained in those positions and relationships by the pawl g. There is a spring IV,

lever E is in the position shown at Fig. 3,

' "hen each of the coiled springsW, is com pressed by the collar IV, on each rod I,-

forcing each spring W, downward upon the cross bar Vt, of each frame C, and the reaction of each spring W, against each colla-r W, tends to force each rod I, upward, and-thereby to cause each rod I, by means of the links H, to pull upward the levers G8 and rotate the shaft D. The shaft D,

its connections are, however, prevented from being so moved by means of the pawl 9, being in engagement with the nose of the lever b, which is securely fastened on the shaft D, therefore the shaft D, and its connections will=then remain locked until the pawl g, bec'oines disengaged from the lever b, by the action of the falling weight 0, as hereinafter described.

The shaft D, shown in plan in Fig. 2,1in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and in side elevation in the cross section Figs. 3, and 4, is, as aforesaid, carried in bearings at the lower end of the A-shaped framing C. The operative lever or handle E, iscarried loosely upon said shaft D, between the two short locking levers a, and b, securedto the shaft D, shown in two operative positlonsat Figs,

3, and 4, and in perspective in Figs; 8, and 9. These locking levers. a, and b, respectively are keyed tothe shaft D. The lever E, has upon its lower end an upturned extension c, npon'which is pivotally carried a pawl d, pressed downward by means of the sprin e, secured to the lever E. When the switcfiis open as indicated by, the position of the interlocking parts in Fig.- 4, and the lever E, is in horizontal position, the pawl (l, carried in the upturned arm or extension 1:, of the leverE, is'in contact with the-lever a, as shown in perspective view Fig. 9, and engages the locking lever a, with the detent f, thereof, so that when the operator pulls the lever E, upward to close the switch, the pawl 11, engaging the lever 11, will rotate the shaft l), and with it. the other lever b, which engages witha pawl r carried on astationary bracket /4, forming part of the frame-work as shown in Figs. 3, and 4, and in perspective in Figs. 8, and ll. When the weight 0, is released by the upward movement of the'lever upon its pivot m, and the .consm uent withdrawal of the hook n, from beneath the weight t), which takes place when the load of the circuit is becoming great cnough or when the circuit will have become short circuits-d, than the weight 0, drops and strikes upon the rear ends of both pawls-rl, and simultaneously. \Vhen the solenoid coil part I of the circuit is sufficiently excited to pull upward the soft iron core r, its wooden or shaft 1:, is caused to press upwardly upon the arm Z, thereby moving the arm vZ, upward upon its pivot, until the weight 0, is released from support by the hook n, when it immediately drops and 'in striking the pawl g, releases the entire apparatus. Then the re-action of the compressed springs W, takes place, and the upward -movement of .the rods I, the channel iron J, the insulators K, the wooden rods L, and the pulling out of the blades M, M, from the fixed poles N, N, takes place, and the circuit is instantly open and broken, and continues open or broken until the poles of the blades M,.M,

and the fixed poles N, N, are moved into operative contact agam, by the lifting of the lever E, by an attendant, and the consequent rotation of the shaft I), the downward movement of the lever G, by means of the links. H, the rods I, and collars W,

again compressing the springs W, and moving theswitch blades M, M, into operative contact with the fixed poles N, N, in which positions and conditions the parts of the apparatus remain so long as the short arm Z), upon the shaft 1), is retained by the. hook, 1

of thepawl 9, carried by the fixed part of thebase h. v t

From the construction and operation of the automatic switch or circuit breaker apparatus or mechanism hereinbefore described, it is obviousthat if at the timeof the closing of the switch the load on the circuit should be great enough to excite the solenoid coil sufficiently, to then pull upward the soft iron core r, and release the wcight O, in the manner hercinbefore described, so that the weight 0, would fall and strike upon the pawl (Z, would release the shaft 1), and there: by render the springs W ,free to re-act by rotating the shaft l),,and movingthe links H, and rods I, to instantlyopen the switch,

and maintain the switchopen'until the load on the circuit has become si tliciently reduced so as not to excite the solenoid and operate the weight imiintainingand' releasing mechanism at the time 0 closing the switch. This condition of the a )paratus results from the connection of the i beingsuch that the lever E, the shaft 1), are rotatable with respect to each other. Instantly that the springs W, re-act and cause the lifting of the channel. iron J, to which the rod m, is altar-lied as shown at Figs. 3,

and 4, the upward movement'of the rod which has a nut 01;, on the bottom thereof, causes the weight 0, to be simultaneously lifted up to the position wherein the weight ever I), the shaft D,

O, reengages with the hook n, ofithe pivotal lever Z, in which position the weight 0, is maintained ready to be released and fall at the next overload or short circuiting of the circuit g, to again act upon the switch or circuit breaker.

I claim as my invention. 4 v 1. In a high potential switch and circuit breaker wherein the parts for opening the circuit are operated from a rotatable shaft,

a lever having-an upturned. arm movable rotatively upon said shaft, said upturned arm' of said lever carrying a pivoted pawl acted upon by a spring carried by said lever, a lever fixed upon said rotatable shaft, said lever being formed as a detent with which said" pawl engages, another lever .fiXed-upon'said rotatable shaft also formed as a detent with which another pawl carried pivotally in a fixed projection engages, said lever having said upturned arm,

said pivoted pawls, said spring operating upon the pivoted pawl carried in said upturned arm ofsaid'lever, said levers formed as detents, other levers fixed on said rotatable shaft, links connectin said levers I -'.to the lower ends of vertical re s, eachsuch rod having a collar, a frame in which eachof said rods is carried, a support in each such frame beneath .the collar .on each of said vertical rods, coiled compressible springs,

the endsof each of which springs are inv pressing contact with the collar of each'of such vertical rods'and each such support respectively, a stiif member to which the upper ends ofsaid vertical rods are connected, said -member when moved in one-direction opening the circuit, and when moved in the opposite direction closing the circuit, by operatlug opening and 'ClOSlDg' switch arms con;

nected insulatedly to said member, a weight which onfalling strikes upon said pawls re-' leasingthem from the levers formed as de- ,tnts', and simultaneously releasing the compressed sprin'gsjfor opening the clrcuit,

2. In a high potential switch and circuitbreaker whereinv the parts for opening the v I circuit are operated from and by the moving of. a'stifi' member, a vertical rod suspended.

from said stifi' member,-a weight having a hole through it encircling said Vertical rod thereby connecting said weight-to said still? 1 member, said verticalrod having a stop at its lower end by which said weight is lifted into potential position by the moving: of. said stiffmember after said weight has fallen upon the pawls and released the opening mechanism of the circuit'breaker.

3. In a high potential switch and circuit breaker wherein the parts for opening the circuit are operated from a rotatable shaft,

a lever having an upturned arm movable rotatively upon said shaft and carrying a plvoted pawl acted upon by a spring carried by. said lever, a lever fixed uponsaid rotatable with said weightv when said weight has shaft, said lever being formed as a detent fixed uponsaid rotatable shaft also formed as a detent with which another pawl carried pivotally in a fixed projection engages, said with which said pawl engages, another lever lever having an upturned arm, said pivoted pawls, said spring operating upon the plvoted pawl carried. in said upturned arm of said lever, said levers formed as detents,

levers fixed on said rotatable shaft, links connecting said levers to the lower ends of vertical rods,'each such rod having a collar, a frame in which-each of said rods is carried, a support in each such frame beneath the collar on each of said vertical rods, coiled compressible springs, the ends of each of which are in pressing contact with the collar of each of such verticalrods and each such support respectively, a stiff member to which the upper ends of said vertical rods are connected, said member when moved in one direction operating to open the circuit, and

' when moved in the opposite-direction. operating to close the circuit, by moving opening and closing switch arms connected insulatedly to said member,a weightwhich on falling strikesupon said pawls releasing them from the levers formed as detents and slmultaneously releasing the compressed springs for-opening the circuit, a vertlcal rod sus eing formed with a hole encircling said vertical rod, said vertical rod having a sto at its lower endby which said weight is li ted into potential position after it has fallen 'uponthe pawls and released the opening mechanism of the circuit breaker.

4. In a high potential switch and circuit breaker, a trip and catch lever for. engaging and disengaging a detachable weight carrie slidabi-y upon a vertical rod suspended from 395 ended from'sa'id stiffmember, said weight a stiff member which on moving opens the circuit, said trip and catch lever enga ing en restored, by the rising of the vertlcal rod, to the heightfrom which it falls, said tri lever operated by the lifting action of a so t 11011 core operated by a solenoid coil, said soft iron coreand means'for operating sald v 'tr1plever being connected by a link of inpi'votally in a fixed projection engages, said lever having-an upturned arm, said pivoted vpawls, said spring operating upon the pivcompressible springs, the ends of each of which are in pressing contact with the collar of each of such vertical rods and each such support respectively, a stiff member to which the u per ends of said vertical rods are connected, said member whe moved in one direction operating to open the circuit and when moved in the opposite direction to close the circuit, by operating opening and closing switch arms connected insulatedly to said member, a weight which on fallin strikes upon said" pawls releasing them rom the levers formed as detents and simultaneously releasingthe compressed springs for o ening the circuit, a vertical rod suspended rom said stiff member, said weight being formed aforesaid, in the with a hole encircling said vertical'rod, said vertical rod having a sto at its lower end by which said weight is lifted into potential position after it has fallen upon the pawls circuit breaker, a trip and catch leverengagand released the opening mechanism of the ing with said weight when said weight hasbeen restored to the height from which it falls, said trip lever operated by the lifting" action of a soft iron core operated by a solenoid coil forming part of a high potential circuit, said soft iron core and means for operating said trip lever being connected by a link of wood, fiber,.a'nd equivalent insulating material. a

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at the city of Los Angeles presence of two subscribing Witnesses;

JOSEPH NELSON KELMAN, [n. 8.]

Witnesses:

ST. JOHN DAY, J. D. CORY. 

